ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CANCER

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Abstract
FIFTY per cent of cases of acanthosis nigricans, of which 420 cases have so far been reported,1 are associated with internal cancer. Acanthosis nigricans provides an unexpected and helpful natural experiment for cancer research. Strong2 recommended the study of linkage to investigators of the origin of neoplastic tissue: "If one can demonstrate that the tendency to develop carcinoma is linked to ( that is, carried on the same chromosome with) any hereditary color or morphological character, then one could prove that the new condition, i. e., the production of spontaneous carcinoma, is definitely inherited." In the problem confronting us my colleagues and I are dealing with human beings and not with experimental animals. Instead of hereditary color and morphologic character we are presented with discoloring and verrucous cutaneous disease which in a high percentage shows signs of genodermatosis. i. e. dermatosis originating from the germ plasm. The advantages and

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